Chapter X: Red Snow
Contains spoilersOverview
Gabriel departs Dhahaeth to pursue Chloe, Dior, and their companions after Danton Voss’s attack, only to find the northern bridge destroyed and a snowstorm closing in. Drawn by horn calls and gunfire at a ruined watchtower, he joins a desperate fight against a pack of wretched and confronts a masked highblood seeking Dior. Reinforcements arrive—the priest, the Ossian slayer, and the lioness—driving the highblood away in a swarm of blood-red moths. The skirmish ends with Chloe bitten but alive, and Gabriel demanding Dior’s story.
Summary
After repelling Danton Voss at Dhahaeth’s gate, Gabriel questions Bishop Alfonse Du Lac and the townsfolk, confirming that Chloe, the soothsinger, and Dior rode north. He hastily outfits a new mount, Jezebel, and rides in pursuit, reflecting on the unusual risk a prince like Danton took to hunt Dior and on Chloe’s claim that Dior is tied to the Grail.
Heading north, Gabriel finds the Ūmdir River bridge destroyed to keep out the Dead, forcing him to detour as snowfall begins. As night deepens in deadwood hills near a ruined watchtower, he hears a wheellock report and a silver horn—signs of Chloe’s group in trouble. He spurs Jezebel toward the sounds, recalling his Silversaint vows.
Gabriel reaches the watchtower to find Chloe, the soothsinger, and Dior beset by at least a dozen wretched. He rides into the melee, using Ashdrinker, silverbombs, and holy water to cut down the Dead, while Chloe and the soothsinger fight to shield Dior. Chloe is bitten and disarmed, the soothsinger nearly overrun, and Dior shows surprising composure—torching a wretched and lighting a cigarelle mid-fight.
As the odds worsen, a masked highblood arrives—slender, in a red frockcoat and porcelain facepaint—moving with lethal grace and a red blade to slaughter wretched with inhuman speed. She demands Dior surrender, attempts to dominate Gabriel, and recognizes him as a Silversaint. Gabriel resists her will and interposes himself between her and the boy.
The old priest appears, brandishing his wheel, which emits blinding holy light that forces the highblood back. At the same moment, the red-maned lioness and the antler-helmed Ossian slayer charge in support. Pressed by sanctified light and oncoming claws, the highblood hisses and dissolves into a swarm of blood-red moths, fleeing into the storm.
With the wretched destroyed and the highblood gone, the skirmish ends. Chloe clutches her bitten arm while the soothsinger tends her; the slayer watches Gabriel warily. Gabriel focuses on Dior—apparently ordinary yet central to the hunt—and, silencing Ashdrinker, demands, “So what’s your story?”
Who Appears
- Gabriel de León
last Silversaint; pursues Chloe’s group, fights wretched, resists a highblood’s domination, and protects Dior.
- Ashdrinker
Gabriel’s sentient silversteel sword; warns, argues, and is used to slay the Dead.
- Alfonse Du Lac
bishop in Dhahaeth; confirms Chloe’s group’s direction indirectly and fails to warn about the ruined bridge.
- Nahia
taverne lass; tells Gabriel the group rode north.
- Chloe Sauvage
holy sister and fighter; battles the wretched, is bitten and disarmed, survives.
- Soothsinger
companion of Chloe; fights with torch and blade, tends to Chloe.
- Dior
pale boy tied to the Grail; defends himself with a torch, displays composure under attack, target of the highblood.
- Ossian slayer
antler-helmed warrior; arrives with the lioness to reinforce and help drive off the highblood.
- Red lioness
beast companion; charges the highblood, helping force her retreat.
- Old priest
companion with a holy wheel; emits sanctified light that repels the highblood.
- Masked highblood
new; porcelain-faced vampire in red, wields a red blade, attempts to seize Dior, retreats as a swarm of blood-red moths under holy light and pressure.
- Wretched (Dead)
undead attackers; a pack besieging the group at the watchtower, destroyed by the defenders.